Murphy – Cherokee County’s 10 solid waste convenience centers will be staffed, with adjusted hours and closed gates after hours, starting after the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
The convenience centers will be gated and open to the public only when attendants are present, the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners decided on May 29.
“This is to prevent non-compliance with the Cherokee County solid waste ordinance including: illegal dumping of prohibited items, scavenging of trash and other illegal activities from occurring at unattended convenience center sites,” according to a report to the board.
Cherokee was among the last counties in the region with some convenience centers open unstaffed and around the clock. Neighboring Graham County faces a similar situation, with the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality notifying that county that failure to address violations could result in fines of up to $15,000 per day.
Under the new plan in Cherokee County, hours will be expanded at the landfill, Caney Creek and Mountain Folk convenience centers – they are the three busiest convenience centers in the county. Hours will be reduced at Granny Squirrel and Candy Mountain, which are the two least busy convenience centers.
Here are hours effective after the July Fourth weekend for the county’s 10 convenience centers:
u Candy Mountain-Hiwassee Dam: Reduced from 60 to 40 hours. Monday-Wednesday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Tuesday-Thursday, noon to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
u Caney Creek: Increased from 40 to 58 hours. Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Tuesday-Thursday, 2 to 8 p.m.; Wednesday, 1-7 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- u Granny Squirrel: Reduced from 40 to 22 hours. Tuesday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Thursday, 1-7 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Hanging Dog: Open 40 hours. Monday-Wednesday-Friday, 1-7 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Landfill Convenience Center: Open 70.5 hours. Monday. Wednesday, Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.to 4 p.m.
- Martins Creek: Open 40 hours. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday, 1-7 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Mountain Folk Center: Increased from 40 to 60 hours. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 1-8 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Peachtree: Open 40 hours. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Texana: Open 40 hours. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday, 1-7 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.;
- Unaka: Open 40 hours. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 1- 7 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The board of commissioners looked at three options:
- Version 1: all convenience centers have some days open until 7 p.m., with hours adjusted up or down for sites that are busier or less busy than others.
- Version 2: Same as Version 1, but Caney Creek open until 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday;
- Version 3: Same as Version 1, but with three convenience centers with 8 p.m. closings: Cherokee County Landfill Convenience Center in Marble on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; Caney Creek in Murphy on Tuesday and Thursday; and Mountain Folk Center in Ranger on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
The plan aims to synchronize hours of operation at the sites so that when one is closed, the next closest center is open.
All convenience centers would be closed on Christmas, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day and Thanksgiving Day.
Cherokee County convenience sites are available only for county residents with proper identification.